Jetboats avoid blighted rivers

The World Jetboat Marathon in Southland will go ahead this weekend after Jetboating New Zealand agreed to exclude all rivers known to be affected with didymo, Biosecurity New Zealand said.

Competitors have also undertaken to complete intensive cleaning of boats between rivers.

The change in itinerary means the Oreti and upper Clutha Rivers will be dropped from the schedule.

The jetboat marathon series runs from Sunday to October 22, with 61 boats, including seven from Canada, competing.

Race spokeswoman Kate Buchanan said yesterday that the race organisers had agreed to clean the jetboats before moving from river to river.

Biosecurity NZ's post-clearance director Peter Thomson said Otago Regional Council staff would be at the event to make sure that appropriate cleaning of the boats, trailers and other equipment was carried out,

The decision to allow the event to go ahead followed months of talks with the event organisers, Environment Southland and Otago Regional Council staff.

"We have to treat this event on the same footing as other river users, and we recognise the importance of the event," Mr Thomson said.

"This isn't a dinghy race, this is a world-class professional jetboat event that will do much for sport in New Zealand, and the economies of Otago and Southland.

"The reality of managing didymo is that we can now demonstrate we can still host these world-class events and manage the risks, otherwise New Zealand will be the loser."

Mr Thomson said Biosecurity NZ accepted that any decision on the event would be unpopular in some quarters. However, they were satisfied the approach being taken more than adequately addressed the risks.

Mr Thomson said despite several suspect samples, didymo had been found in only two Southland rivers and the Buller River.

- NZPA